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FANTASY: Brushing Up on Atlanta

Despite taking the checkered flag at Atlanta in 2013, Kyle Busch doesn't appear to be a race favorite this year.
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Atlanta Motor Speedway is set to host its only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of the season. While it will be the first visit in 2014 for the Sprint Cup Series, the 1.5-mile intermediate layout is one that the series should be quite familiar with at this point.

The Chase will feature two other intermediates hosting single races of the season (Chicagoland and Homestead-Miami), so it will be a big test for the postseason. For those that think the drivers locked into the Chase can just put it in cruise control for a couple of weeks, think again. This will be the last time to try to maximize the car's performance on a track layout that comprises five of the ten Chase races.

Here's who you should keep in consideration when setting the fantasy roster this weekend:

Green Flag: Jeff Gordon

It's hard to go against Gordon anywhere this season, as he continues to hold a strong points lead. Take a look at his stats for Atlanta and he becomes the closest thing to a lock this weekend that you can get in auto racing: he has five wins and 26 top-10 finishes in 40 starts at the track.

Yellow Flag: Carl Edwards

With three wins and 10 top-10s in 16 starts at Atlanta, Edwards seems like a good option. However, five of the other six starts at the track have resulted in finishes of 36th or worse. Luck hasn't seemed to be on his side the past few months, so he's a risky play.

Red Flag: Kyle Busch

Last year's Atlanta race winner only has five top-10s in 16 starts at Atlanta. More importantly, he's skidding right now with four consecutive finishes of 36th or worse. The slip has dropped him all the way to 17th in the points standings.